Our Coaching Programme
ReconnectEd provides a trauma-informed emotion coaching programme to address the root causes of school exclusion. ReconnectEd coaches are recruited from the young people’s communities because they understand the issues the young people face. We reach the young people through Multi-Academy Trusts in areas of deprivation and work in close collaboration with their schools and local stakeholders.
Our Pilot
ReconnectEd is running a 3.5 year pilot from January 2023 in partnership with Brigantia Learning Trust, which is match funding and employing the Coaches.
The Trust is based in an extremely deprived part of Sheffield, which is a national cold spot for school exclusions and serious youth violence.
The schools where the programme is based are within the second most deprived ward in Sheffield and also of 225 ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods in England (according to the OCSI). This means that it suffers from a combination of social and economic deprivation; poor connectivity (physical and digital); low levels of community engagement and a lack of community spaces and places.
Over our 3.5 year pilot we aim to have recruited and upskilled 10 Coaches to support 100 young people and their families. We expect a further 1000 will receive indirect benefit through the positive ripple effect of our programme.
"Both Rachael and Kim (and, therefore, ReconnectEd) have proved an invaluable asset, working tirelessly with many of our most challenging and troubled young people. Knowledge of – and experience within – the local community has proven to be an absolute asset in getting families to engage and buy in, allowing school and parents to work together in order to better support our young learners, some of whom are either classified as high risk or in crisis.
These pupils have formed a fast, trusted and durable relationship with both ReconnectEd Coaches, which speaks volumes of their empathy, understanding, engagement and – most importantly – impact. Rachael and Kim continue to build on said expertise, via the implementation and delivery of the ReconnectEd ethos, always willing to go above and beyond, and always to a very high standard."
— Dave Bell, Alternative Learning Coordinator, Yewlands Academy
The problems we address
Poor mental wellbeing
Poor mental wellbeing and resilience in young people facing adversity can lead to exclusion, poor attendance, poor attainment and poor life chances. Too many young people facing adversity are not successfully completing their education which affects their life chances and health, resulting in a greater likelihood of them falling into crime, debt, addiction, the sex trade and homelessness.
Persistent disruptive behaviour
Persistent disruptive behaviour has a negative ripple effect on peers, teachers and families. Poor behaviour can affect the learning of every young person.
Poor and inefficient use of taxpayers’ money
The estimated costs of exclusion are £370,000 per young person in lifetime education, benefits, healthcare and criminal justice costs. We want the government to direct funding to preventative work which can promote social mobility and a safer, more prosperous society.
Marginalised families and communities
Too often marginalised young people and their families are blamed for the problems they face. The root causes of young people’s behaviour are too often not addressed.
How we address these problems…
We provide a trauma-informed model which reflects how we work with the young people
The model utilises coaching methodology and includes a curriculum of emotion coaching and social skills development created with experts in the field.
We identify, in partnership with the school, local people as our coaches
The coaches are excellent at building strong relationships with young people at risk of exclusion. They are positive role models for them and bring shared experiences.
We provide high quality, rigorous training and ongoing support
Coaches are given an initial 2-week intensive training programme plus ongoing termly training sessions run by ReconnectEd and external professionals in the fields of psychology, coaching and education. Coaches are also given external supervision three to four times a term.
We share our learning and evaluate our impact
We are continually developing our programme based on the needs of our young people. We also work with external professionals to help us capture impact. We will produce an Impact Report at the end of the pilot and interim evaluation reports at the end of each academic year which we will share with all our stakeholders.
We facilitate two locally led advisory groups
These groups meet one to two times per term to promote effective communication and joined-up thinking and working locally. They act as advocates for the programme by making connections and drawing on local intelligence and expertise. One group comprises local young people (some from our target group) and the other comprises local stakeholders. Group members are valued ReconnectEd advisors.
We have developed a sustainable model
ReconnectEd utilises local skills, experiences and talents thus helping to foster links with hard-to-reach communities and bridge cultural differences. The Trusts employ the coaches so that they are integrated into the school community.